Educated and smiling, the young brothers Silvia and Angelo Lambertini are now running the family winery. What I felt at first, was the commitment in what they are doing and the awareness of the weight of the family heritage they are now carrying.
Tenuta Bonzara was born by the dream of grandfather Angelo, who in 1963 bought a property of about 100 hectares, 15 of which were destinated to vineyards, in the small hamlet of San Chierlo, at the foot of Monte Bonzara. This is how the meeting between a historically suited to viticulture area and a family with a long agricultural and winemaking tradition came about.
The first bottlings and labels date back to 1967, then it was a crescendo of commitment and enthusiasm until the intuition that in 1971 led to the birth of the legendary Cabernet Sauvignon Bonzarone, baptized with this name by the great wine critic Luigi Veronelli.
Following the death of Angelo, his son Francesco took up his baton in 1986 and merged his career as Professor of Economics at the University of Bologna with the activity of passionate wine producer.
Right from the start, Francesco directed his efforts in the research of the best quality, completely renewing the means of vinification and processing techniques in the vineyard and cellar. Unforgettable was, among the many achievements, the score of 94/100 assigned to Bonzarone 2001 by the prestigious American magazine Wine Spectator.
In the 15 hectares of vineyards, 6 grapes are cultivated: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Negretto, Barbera, Sauvignon Blanc and Pignoletto.
Though most of them are international grapes, the winery has always had a strong connection with the territory, which has been historically exalted especially by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Nevertheless, local grapes such as Pignoletto, Barbera and, last but not least, Negretto are beginning to find their point of difference, and the use of new barriques is becoming lighter even in the riserva.
During the visit, I have been offered a generous wine tasting, with impressive wines:
Vigna Antica 2019: Pignoletto is a native grape, considered as the "Prince of the Bolognese Hills". Careful selection of the grapes that are harvested only when they reach an advanced level of ripeness on the plant. Respect for the bunch is ensured by soft pressing followed by fermentation at a controlled temperature. The wine completes its shape with a subsequent and fundamental period of elèvage sur lies to generate the right degree of complexity. In the glass, a fresh and steely pignoletto classico DOCG with fine and materic texture. Floral aromas and lemon, nervous and straight, bitter almond finish.
Bonzarone 2017: the flagship wine of the winery, the one that seized prizes and gave fame to Tenuta Bonzara. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes produced from vineyards of about fifteen years of age. Hand-harvested after a careful selection, the goal is to produce a wine both rich in polyphenols and extract. The vinification undergoes a long maceration on the skins, then the wine ages for 12 months in French oak barriques. This 2017 is already impressive though still very young. Graet ageing potential, let some bottles rest in the depth of your cellar 5/10 years more and he'll be outstanding.
The winery is open to visitors and offers various kinds of wine experience. For more info: https://bonzara.it/
TENUTA BONZARA Via S. Chierlo, 37/A – 40050 Monte San Pietro (BO)
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